AIA Continental Europe Board of Directors Meeting

London, 27 September 2007

Participants

Voting

Non-voting

Agenda

  1. Welcome
  2. Reports
  3. Events
  4. Dues
  5. Membership
  6. Athens
  7. End of meeting

1. Welcome: Karl Hartnack, 2007 president

Thanks go to Sam Stata and Amanda Vidler of HOK London for providing a conference room for the AIACE board meeting.

2. Reports:

2.1 Treasury: Helen Giblin, treasurer

Chapter finances are in good order. The Brussels conference budget has been balanced. 2007, on the whole, saw lower than average financial activity; chapter balances have changed little since the start of the year. Some corporate partner money remains available to carry over into 2008.

Helen noted that the reimbursement process needs to be accelerated. To that end, requests for reimbursements should go directly to the treasurer, CC’d to the administrative assistant.

2.2 Membership: Richard Anderson, secretary

Membership numbers stand around 200. Throughout the year, this included the usual ebb and flow (down to about 160, or 80% to 200) with transfers, new members and late renewals adding 40 back.

The process of joining the chapter and the AIA was discussed, particularly the delays that can occur in recognizing new members. A pending category will be created in the chapter membership database to track these members. New members will be encouraged to complete the chapter membership form in addition to the Institute form (as applicable). The administrative assistant can then notify the secretary of pending memberships.

New members should be announced to the Chapter in accordance to the bylaws; Richard has neglected this but will try to have something before the end of the year.

2.3 Sections:

France, Ray Spano — Planning some visits to Coteba projects including one with work by VMZinc. A “Ground-Zero” follow-up conference is being considered.

Germany, Dieter Waldschmidt — no report.

Switzerland, Bertrand de Sénépart — no report.

Italy, Esteban Cruz — a mid-September 2008 event in Milan is being considered.

Northern Europe, Gerry Meagher — no report.

Southern Europe, Steven Miller — section events not practical. The “southern section” is growing beyond the chartered territory of the chapter. He mentioned “Cityscape” event in Dubai, noting the possibility that some future event be structured around this annual event.

Eastern Europe, Nora Demeter — no report. Nora did attend last February’s section event in Amsterdam.

2.4 Website: Richard Anderson

Richard continues with the website. He discussed the possibility of an aiainternational.org web site which might act as a single gateway for the four international chapters of the AIA.

2.5 Administrative assistant (AA):

Richard Anderson reminded board members that Elizabeth Heudebourg is now a full (architect) AIA member, having reactivated her license. Chapter bylaws set the present job limits of the administrative assistant which should be addressed with any expansion in the AA position.

2.6 Continuing education:

Richard Anderson asked for clarification as to whether Dominique will continue to provide CES accrediting services for section events if event organizers prepare the required information in timely fashion. The appendix to the board meeting agenda suggest yes but email between Dominique and Richard during the summer suggest no.

2.7 International director: Michael Lischer

Michael updated the board on the project for “greening” the Institute headquarters in Washington. He reviewed the evaluation of all “associate” categories of membership in the Institute which focus on a effort by some to rename the International Associate category of membership. (It was noted later by Ellen Delage that talk of title change is not being driven by dissatisfaction with the title by those in the category.) The 2008-9 international director of the AIA Board will be Ralph Lerner, FAIA of the Hong Kong chapter.

3. Events

3.1 Grass Roots Leadership Conference, Washington, DC

Steve Scamihorn and Marc DiDomenico are expected to attend.

Continuing the topic of member titles as noted in the International Director Report (2.7 above), Ellen Delage suggested that prior to Grassroots, the AIACE board pass a resolution if some consensus exists on the nature of the International Associate title. This should be in the form of a letter (joint with other international chapters as applicable) to the International Director. She noted that any AIA title used for internationally licensed architect must not conflict with US state licensing concerns.

3.2 AIA 2008 National Convention and Design Exposition, Boston (15-17 May 2008)

The chapter will fund attendance for one chapter delegate.

3.3 Future Conferences:

Milan 2008: with the cooperation of Esteban Cruz, Italy Section Director, the board passed a motion to designate this event as a “minor chapter conference” with €1000 of seed money and support of the administrative assistant.

Riga 2009: no discussion

Istanbul, date TBD: no discussion

4. Chapter dues:

Chapter dues for 2008 for those paying through the Institute are $100. Chapter dues for those paying through the Chapter are €100.

Richard noted that the board/chapter consider changing the Chapter bylaws to align with billing practices of the Institute and past recent practices by the chapter.

5. Membership Initiative:

After a short discussion, the suggestion to run a listing in the Italian Yellow Pages was dismissed.

6. Athens conference and the Google Earth project:

Much of the discussion of time devoted to the Athens conference was consumed by details for the Google Earth project. The short version: Elias Messinas introduced the idea to expand the AIA layer in Google Earth into Europe, with its launch coinciding with the Athens conference. Introduced at the meeting by Giancarlo Aldaheff, a non-binding vote expressed the chapter’s interest in its role for the project but without any commitment of funds. Any commitment of funds to support the project would need a firmer proposal. A motion was passed to express commitment for the project but not with the timetable described.

7. Meeting adjourned

—Richard Anderson, AIACE secretary
 
See an error? .